House Bill 3807c1
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 CS/HB 3807
By the Committee on Water & Resource Management and
Representative Barreiro
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Miami River;
3 establishing the Miami River Commission;
4 providing purposes; providing for a policy
5 committee, a managing director, and a working
6 group; specifying membership of the committee;
7 providing powers and duties of the committee;
8 requiring a report; providing an effective
9 date.
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11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. (1)(a) The Miami River Commission is
14 hereby established as the official clearinghouse for all
15 public policy and projects related to the Miami River to unite
16 all governmental agencies, businesses, and residents in the
17 area to speak with one voice on river issues, to develop
18 coordinated plans, priorities, programs, projects, and budgets
19 that might substantially improve the river area, and to act as
20 the principal advocate and watchdog to ensure that river
21 projects are funded and implemented in a proper and timely
22 manner.
23 (b) The commission may seek and receive funding to
24 implement river improvement projects of the commission.
25 Nothing in this act affects or supersedes the regulatory
26 authority of any governmental agency or any local government
27 and any responsibilities of any governmental entity relating
28 to the Miami River shall remain with such respective
29 governmental entity. However, the commission may accept any
30 specifically defined authority delegated to the commission by
31 any governmental entity, through a memorandum of understanding
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 CS/HB 3807
195-820-98
1 or other legal instrument. The commission shall use powers of
2 persuasion to achieve its objectives through the process of
3 building a consensus work plan and through widespread
4 publication of regular progress reports.
5 (2) The Miami River Commission shall consist of:
6 (a) A policy committee comprised of the Governor, the
7 chair of the Dade delegation, the chair of the governing board
8 of the South Florida Water Management District, the Miami-Dade
9 County State Attorney, the Mayor of Miami, the Mayor of
10 Miami-Dade County, a commissioner of the City of Miami
11 Commission, a commissioner of the Miami-Dade County
12 Commission, the chair of the Miami River Marine Group, the
13 chair of the Marine Council, the Executive Director of the
14 Downtown Development Authority, and the chair of the Greater
15 Miami Chamber of Commerce; two representatives, selected from
16 the Spring Garden Neighborhood Association, the Grove Park
17 Neighborhood Association, and the Miami River Neighborhood
18 Enhancement Corporation, one appointed by the city commission
19 and one appointed by the county commission, selected from a
20 list of 3 names submitted by each such organization; one
21 representative from an environmental or civic association,
22 appointed by the Governor; and three members-at-large, who
23 shall be persons who have a demonstrated history of
24 involvement on the Miami River through business, residence, or
25 volunteer activity, one appointed by the Governor, one
26 appointed by the city commission, and one appointed by the
27 county commission. All members shall be voting members. The
28 committee shall also include a member of the United States
29 Congressional delegation and the Captain of the Port of Miami
30 as a representative of the United States Coast Guard, as
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 CS/HB 3807
195-820-98
1 nonvoting, ex officio members. The policy committee may meet
2 monthly, but shall meet at least quarterly.
3 (b) A managing director who has the responsibility to
4 implement plans and programs.
5 (c) A working group consisting of all governmental
6 agencies that have jurisdiction in the Miami River area, as
7 well as representatives from business and civic associations.
8 (3) The policy committee shall have the following
9 powers and duties:
10 (a) Consolidate existing plans, programs, and
11 proposals into a coordinated strategic plan for improvement of
12 the Miami River and surrounding areas, addressing
13 environmental, economic, social, recreational, and aesthetic
14 issues. The committee shall monitor the progress on each
15 element of such plan and shall revise the plan regularly.
16 (b) Prepare an integrated financial plan modeled after
17 the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Working Group. The
18 committee shall monitor the progress on each element of such
19 plan and revise the plan regularly.
20 (c) Provide technical assistance and political support
21 as needed to help implement each element of the strategic and
22 financial plans.
23 (d) Accept any specifically defined authority
24 delegated to the committee by any level of government through
25 a memorandum of understanding or other legal instrument.
26 (e) Publicize a semiannual report describing
27 accomplishments of the commission and each member agency, as
28 well as the status of each pending task. The committee shall
29 distribute the report to the City and County Commissions and
30 Mayors, the Governor, chair of the Dade County delegation,
31 stakeholders and the local media.
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 CS/HB 3807
195-820-98
1 (f) Seek grants from public and private sources and
2 receive grant funds and administer contracts.
3 (g) Coordinate a joint planning area agreement between
4 the Department of Community Affairs, the city, and the county
5 under the provisions of s. 163.3177(11)(a),(b), and (c),
6 Florida Statutes.
7 (h) Provide a forum for exchange of information and
8 facilitate the resolution of conflicts.
9 (i) Act as a clearinghouse for public information and
10 conduct public education programs.
11 (j) Establish the Miami River working group, appoint
12 members to the group, and organize subcommittees, delegate
13 tasks, and seek council from members of the working group as
14 necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed in this
15 subsection.
16 (k) Elect officers and adopt rules of procedure as
17 necessary to carry out the powers and duties listed above.
18 Replace policy committee members who do not participate on a
19 regular basis.
20 (l) Hire the managing director, who shall be
21 authorized to represent the commission and to implement all
22 policies, plans, and programs of the commission. The committee
23 shall employ any additional staff necessary to assist the
24 managing director.
25 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
26 law.
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